Florida State Dismisses Star Punt Returner Reid

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Senior cornerback Greg Reid, one of the nation’s top punt returners, was dismissed from Florida State’s football team Wednesday for a violation of team rules.

Coach Jimbo Fisher had no further comment after announcing that Reid was done at Florida State, where he had emerged as the school’s best punt returner since Deion Sanders in the late 1980s. Reid needed 313 yards to surpass Sanders’ school record of 1,429 yards on punt returns.

The 5-8, 180-pound Reid led the nation in punt returns as a freshman in 2009. He had two interceptions and 32 tackles last season in his second year as a starting cornerback. He finishes his Florida State career with seven interceptions and 120 tackles.

Reid has one year of eligibility remaining if he chooses to transfer to another school, although he would retain his scholarship at Florida State if he decides to remain at the university as a student.

Fisher will likely have to turn to an untested returner in Reid’s absence. Running back Chris Thompson, who is coming off a serious back injury, and wide receiver Rashad Greene are the only two returning players who have returned punts other than Reid the past two seasons. The coaching staff will probably be reluctant to expose Greene, expected to be the Seminoles’ top playmaker, to the rigors of the return game.

Finding a replacement in the secondary won’t be as difficult since Reid was often victimized by taller receivers.

Reid’s departure comes three weeks after his latest run-in with authorities when he was charged with marijuana possession after being stopped by a Georgia state trooper near his home in Valdosta, Ga.

Reid, 21, was arrested last year on charges of resisting arrest and perjury charges. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges. He was also suspended for a game last season for an unspecified violation of team rules.

It’s the second time in as many years that Fisher has had to dismiss one of his top players. Wide receiver Jarmon Fortson was kicked off the team in August of 2010. He had caught 45 passes for a career high 610 yards and four touchdowns.